The turnout at the 2026 SA Saw Doctors Educational Association (SASDEA) Conference was excellent.
By Joy Crane
It has been two years since the last South African Saw Doctors Educational Association (SASDEA) meeting, and sawmill managers and saw doctors travelled from as far afield as Zimbabwe and Eswatini to attend, making it the largest SASDEA gathering in a decade.
Roy Southey, Executive Director of Sawmilling South Africa (SSA), welcomed the sawmill and saw shop managers and remarked that it was the first time in several years to see such a good turnout.
Setting the agenda
SASDEA’s main objective is to train the next generation of saw doctors, share techniques, and preserve knowledge as older specialists retire. It is also a networking space for saw doctors to feel valued, share experiences, solve saw blade maintenance issues and connect across businesses and generations.
However, the event would fail without supplier participation. They provide operational support by sharing product knowledge, providing examples of good and poor saw shop practices and explaining how to correct and avoid costly mistakes. They also discuss advances in saw blades and maintenance technologies and advise on the best combination of skills, equipment and machines to maximise return on investment.
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- Robert Welsh.
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- Robbie Brockmann.
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- Tafadzwa Nyanzunda.
Robert Welsh of Saw Specialists describes the relationship as one where “Sawmills set the agenda based on their operational risk and needs, while suppliers and training providers provide the tools and knowledge to raise the capacity of the saw shop workers and saw doctors. We all focus on enhancing the quality of the timber products, decreasing costs and increasing efficiencies.”
Read the full story here – https://www.woodbizafrica.co.za/april-2026-issue-58/29/